Disparities in Health-Risk Behaviors, Preventive Health Care Utilizations, and Chronic Health Conditions for People With Disabilities: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract Background: Outpatient clinic visits are a window of opportunity to address health risk behaviors and promote a healthier lifestyle among young people. The HEADS (Home, Education, Eating, Activities, Drugs [i.e. substance use including tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs], Sexuality [including contraception], Safety, Self-harm) interview is a feasible way of exploring health risk behaviors and resilience. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how often HEADS topics were addressed according to young patients and staff in pediatric and adult outpatient clinics. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey among young patients and health care professionals at a tertiary university hospital. Young patients reported on their cumulative experience and staff reported on their usual practice. Results: A total of 290 young patients aged 12–22 years (78% having a chronic condition) and 97 health care professionals participated. We found only small reported differences between staff and young patients regarding whether home, education, and activity were addressed. However, staff reported twice the rate of addressing smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, sexuality, and contraception compared to young patients. Young patients reported that smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, sexuality, and contraception were addressed significantly more at adult clinics in comparison to pediatric clinics. After controlling for age, gender and duration of illness, according to young patients, adjusted odds ratios for addressing smoking at adult vs. pediatric clinics was 2.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26–4.83), alcohol 2.84 (95% CI:1.45–5.57), illegal drugs 4.20 (95% CI:1.69–10.44), sexuality 3.54 (95% CI: 1.67–7.50), contraception 3.68 (95% CI:1.61–8.41), and any of the above 2.95 (95% CI: 1.47–5.91). Conclusion: According to young patients, smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, sexuality, and contraception were not routinely addressed at a tertiary hospital, and especially at paediatric clinics, these issues were seldom addressed.

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The Impact of Unemployment on Mental and Physical Health, Access to Health Care and Health Risk Behaviors

ISRN Public Health ◽

10.5402/2012/483432 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Jennifer R. Pharr ◽

Sheniz Moonie ◽

Timothy J. Bungum

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Risk ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Access To Health Care ◽

Health Risk Behaviors ◽

Unemployment Duration ◽

Health Access ◽

Access To Health ◽

The Impact

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of employment status and unemployment duration on perceived health, access to health care, and health risk behaviors. Data from Nevada's 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed. We compared participants who were unemployed (greater than and less than one year) to those who were employed and those who were voluntarily out of the labor force (OLF). Unemployed participants had significantly worse perceived mental health profiles, were more likely to delay health care services due to cost, and were less likely to have access to health care than employed participants and OLF participants. OLF participants were not significantly different from employed participants. Contrary to previous findings, unemployed participants in this study were not more likely to binge drink, smoke, or be physically inactive. Findings from this study suggest that the impetus for unemployment, be it voluntary or involuntary, may significantly impact a person's mental health.

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Education and Guidance About Health Risk Behaviors During Sports Physicals—What Do Adolescent Athletes Need, and What Do Health Care Providers Discuss?

Journal of Adolescent Health ◽

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.10.155 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. S71

Author(s):

Karen E. Johnson ◽

Annie-Laurie McRee

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Risk ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Health Risk Behaviors ◽

Care Providers ◽

Adolescent Athletes

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The Health Status of Veteran Employees Compared to Civilian Employees in Veterans Health Administration

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usy410 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 184 (7-8) ◽

pp. e218-e224 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tamara M Schult ◽

Sandra K Schmunk ◽

James R Marzolf ◽

David C Mohr

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Risk Behaviors ◽

Chronic Health Conditions ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Veteran Status ◽

Civilian Employees ◽

Veteran Employees

AbstractIntroductionVeterans Health Administration (VHA) is undergoing changes in the practice of health care focusing on approaches that prioritize veteran well-being. Given transformation efforts, opportunities exist to enhance the health and well-being of patients and employees alike – a significant proportion of whom are veterans. To date, differences in health status between veteran and civilian employees within VHA have not been examined.Materials and MethodsData from an annual organizational census survey with health promotion module conducted in 2015 were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of health risk behaviors, mental health, and chronic health conditions by veteran status within genders (n = 86,257). To further examine associations by gender between veteran status and health measures controlling for covariates, multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized.ResultsPrevalence estimates generally indicated veterans have worse health status and health risk behaviors than their civilian counterparts. Results from multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated many significant associations between veteran status and health by gender controlling for other important demographic variables and a total comorbidity score. Compared to civilian employees within respective genders, both male and female veteran employees have increased odds of being a current smoker. Both male and female veteran employees have decreased odds of physical inactivity compared to civilian employees. For mental health and chronic health conditions, there are several conditions that veteran employees have increased odds for when compared to civilian employees of like gender; these include low back problems, arthritis, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.ConclusionsVeteran employees in VHA have worse health status than their civilian counterparts on a number of measures of health risk behaviors, mental health, and chronic health conditions. Given current organizational priorities aimed at cultural transformation, the present time is an optimal one to work collaboratively to enhance the health and well-being services that are available for patients and employees alike. All employees, particularly our unique population of veteran employees, will benefit from such an approach.

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